Optimisation of FDM process parameters by Taguchi method for imparting customised properties to components

ABSTRACT

Customisation of material properties by route of controlling the process parameters is a landmark ability of the additive manufacturing (AM) processes. Parametric optimisation of fused deposition modelling process using Fortus 250mc modeller is accomplished for conical primitives of constructive solid geometry in the present research. Experiments were designed according to the Taguchi technique for four factors at three levels each – slice height (SH), contour width (CW), raster width and air gap (AG). Analysis of signal-to-noise ratios is utilised for establishing the optimal process parameters and the relative percentage contribution of factors is estimated using ANOVA. Optimal levels of process parameters are found to vary with the variation in the type of basic shape of primitive. It has been established that AG has a maximum impact over the part build volume followed by CW and SH. Also, it can be safely concluded that the interaction effect of parameters is relatively less important.

KEYWORDS:

• Additive manufacturing
• fused deposition modelling
• tailor-made properties
• air gap
• contour width
• raster width
• slice height
• model material volume
• Taguchi's technique

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Manu Srivastava

Dr Manu Srivastava is an associate professor at IMS Engineering college, India. She has completed her Ph.D. from Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, affiliated to University of Delhi, New Delhi, India. Her research areas include additive manufacturing, friction stir processing, functionally graded materials and optimisation techniques. She is a life member of IEI (India), ISTE, ISTAM and AMSI.

Sandeep Rathee

Sandeep Rathee is a teaching cum research fellow in Division of Manufacturing Processes and Automation Engineering at Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, New Delhi. He has completed his M.Tech from U.I.E.T. MDU, India. His main research interests lie in the field of friction stir processing/welding, solid-state-friction-based additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing processes. He is a life member of AMSI.